
A closet (especially in
North American English usage) is an enclosed space, with a
door, used for storage, particularly that of clothes. ''Fitted closets'' are built into the walls of the house so that they take up no apparent space in the room. Closets are often built under stairs, thereby using awkward space that would otherwise go unused.
A piece of furniture such as a
cabinet or
chest of drawers serves the same purpose of storage, but is not a closet, which is an architectural feature rather than a piece of furniture. A closet always has space for hanging, where a
cupboard may consist only of shelves for folded garments. ''
Wardrobe'' can refer to a free-standing piece of furniture (also known as an ''armoire''), but according to the ''
Oxford English Dictionary
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), a University of Oxford publishing house. The dictionary, which published its first editio ...
'', a wardrobe can also be a "large cupboard or cabinet for storing clothes or other linen", including "built-in wardrobe, fitted wardrobe,
walk-in wardrobe, etc."
Other uses of the word
In
Elizabethan and
Middle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...
, ''closet'' referred to a small private room, an inner sanctum within a far larger house, used for prayer, reading, or study.
The use of "closet" for "
toilet
A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human waste (urine and feces) and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not. They can be designed for a sitting p ...
" dates back to 1662. In
Indian English
Indian English (IndE, IE) or English (India) is a group of English dialects spoken in the Republic of India and among the Indian diaspora and native to India. English is used by the Government of India for communication, and is enshrined ...
, this use continues. Related forms include
earth closet and
water closet (
flush toilet). "Privy" meaning an
outhouse derives from "private", making the connection with the Middle English use of "closet", above.
Types

*
Airing cupboard: A closet containing a water heater, with slatted shelves to allow air to circulate around the clothes or linen stored there.
* Broom closet: A closet with top-to-bottom space used for storing cleaning items, like brooms, mops, vacuum cleaners, cleaning supplies, buckets, etc.
* Coat closet: A closet located near the front door. Usually used to store coats, jackets, hoodies, sweatshirts, gloves, hats, scarfs, sunglasses, and boots/shoes. This kind of closet sometimes has shelving. It only has a rod and some bottom space used for clothes stored in boxes or drawers. Some may have a top shelf for storage above the rod.
*Custom closet: A closet that is made specifically to meet the needs of the user, like a kids closet.
*
Linen-press or linen closet: A tall, narrow closet. Typically located in or near bathrooms and/or bedrooms, such a closet contains shelves used to hold items such as toiletries and linens, including towels, washcloths, or sheets.
*
Pantry: A closet or cabinet in a kitchen used for storing food, dishes, linens, and provisions. The closet may have shelves for putting food on.
* Spear closet: A closet made to use up otherwise unused space in a building.
*Supply closet: A closet most commonly used for storing
office supplies
Office supplies are consumables and equipment regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, required to sustain office operations. For example, office supplies may be used by individuals engaged in written communications, rec ...
.
* Utility closet: A closet most commonly used for storing house appliances and cleaning supplies
*
Walk-in closet: A storage room with enough space for someone to stand in it while accessing stored items. Larger ones used for clothes shade into
dressing room.
* Wall closet: A closet in a bedroom that is built into the wall. It may be closed by curtains or folding doors, in which clothes can be stored folded on shelves.
*
Wardrobe: A small closet used for storing clothes.
Closet tax question in colonial America
Though some sources claim that colonial American houses often lacked closets because of a "closet tax" imposed by the British crown,
others argue that closets were absent in most houses simply because their residents had few possessions.
Closet organizers
Closet organizers are integrated shelving systems. Different materials have advantages and disadvantages:
* Wire shelving: Moderately difficult to install, wire shelves cannot hold much weight without giving in but are cheap.
* Wood shelving: Difficult to install, wood shelving is sturdier and more expensive than wire.
* Tube shelving: Easy to install,
tube
Tube or tubes may refer to:
* ''Tube'' (2003 film), a 2003 Korean film
* "Tubes" (Peter Dale), performer on the Soccer AM television show
* Tube (band), a Japanese rock band
* Tube & Berger, the alias of dance/electronica producers Arndt Rör ...
shelving involves few pieces and requires no cutting or measuring.
See also
*
Cubby-hole
A cubby-hole, cubby-house or cubby is a small play house, or play area, for children. This may be constructed by the children themselves and used as a place of play.
Children may have a small shed, play-house or tent which they use as a cubb ...
, one name for the cupboard under the stairs
References
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